Top 100 ProAdvisor
Editor's Note: In our continuing effort to give you the content you need, our "Top 100 Insightful Accountant Spotlight On..." series offers insights and perspectives from some of today's leading accounting professionals.
Robin Hall is the driving force behind VARC Solutions, where she serves as president and principal consultant. An Intuit Advisory Board member and one of the original Intuit Solution Providers, she is a highly sought after instructor and speaker for venues such as Scaling New Heights, the Intuit Solution Provider Conference, CNN Radio and Radio Free QuickBooks.
In addition to being an Intuit Solution Provider, Robin also is a QuickBase Solution Provider. She developed VARC Solutions’ signature product using QuickBase, NAN Practice Manager, a CRM designed specifically for Intuit ProAdvisors, Intuit Solution Providers, CPAs and others in the accounting profession.
And if that’s not enough, Robin and her staff have won many awards including Intuit’s "Partner of the Year," "All Stars Award," and "Customer Satisfaction" and "Sales Achievement" awards (most recently for Payroll Services). They also have hosted the Regional QuickBooks Conference.
We sat down with Robin to get her thoughts on where the industry is heading:
As the market changes, we have to change and grow with it. We are developing apps to go along and complement QuickBooks and the entire workflow of a business.
Give us a snapshot of today's accounting landscape.
I think the accounting landscape is changing every day. We will always have the standard reports and needs, but how we access and get the information and the expectations we need at our fingertips is changing rapidly.
What was the biggest surprise you saw in 2016?
I don’t know that I was surprised by anything in 2016, since the norm is to expect the unexpected. I guess if I had to pick something, I'd say it’s the shear rapid changing environment. I love the technology change, but having the time to vet and explore all of it while taking care of our clients can be challenging.
What is the biggest item on your to-do list in 2017?
I have participated in the Hackathon for the last two years at QBConnect. I would like to get more involved with that process. Not only to be involved in adding or building what is happening now, but I'd like to be on the horizon of what’s coming next. What is the next biggest thing? I want to do this so that I not only can serve my clients better, but stay in the conversation of technology.
What are three areas every accountant should keep an eye on next year?
We need to watch the Millennials, the Millennials and the Millennials. They are changing the ground as we stand on it. The rapid pace that the cloud is moving in is amazing. This industry has not seen anything like it before.
What goals have set for 2017?
I have some personal and company goals. Personally, I would like to write more. I would like to have an ongoing conversation and share the wisdom that I have learned along the way with up and coming business professionals. It is great to learn along the way, but if I had someone that would have helped pave the way for me, it would have opened up some many possibilities. If I can share the trials and tribulations and help just one person, it would be very rewarding. As for our company, I'd like to expand a couple of the growing divisions that we have. As the market changes, we have to change and grow with it. We are developing apps to go along and complement QuickBooks and the entire workflow of a business.